Miss Paige turns 5

Paige turned 5 this year on June 6th.  We partied it up Princess Style.

All of Paige's little home-girls came over and got dressed up in Paige's princess Dress-up clothes.

Within minutes they, of course, all had swim suits on and ended up in the front yard running in Paige's Hello Kitty sprinkler.  Watching 5 year-olds is utterly entertaining.

It was a fun party.  Paige had a blast and was spoiled like a Princess should be.

~Birthday Princess Paige~

I had multiple flash-forwards of this being Paige's 16th birthday party and had to be sedated. 
Heaven help me.

Dance, Dance, Dance!!

Its a Small World Afterall....

June 9-14, 2010 marked the Erickson Family's one and only trip to Disneyland...this year. 

Yes, its sad but true that we will only be able to do a family trip to D-land once this year due to other plans that will take all our time (and money) this year. 

So the first day I flew in with Braiden and Paige and we spent a day at Disneyland and then the next day we caught a bus to SeaWorld.  SeaWorld is pretty fun but also pretty pricey for what you get if you ask me...however; the kids always love it.  There is something about smelly fish and giant sea mammals that amazes them.  So...its all about them anyway, right?

The first day we spent at Disneyland, we ran into out neighbor friends, the Webbs, so we hung out with them the rest of the say and had a great time!  Little Riley Webb and Paige are little buddies and had a blast together.  We saw the Fairy Godmother, Mary Poppins, Jasmine and Aladdin, ate turkey legs and had a great time!

Eric got there the second day with Cameron and we stayed for 3 more days at Disneyland. 

This year seemed to be different for Cameron.  He is getting to the age where he is super excited about Disney and all it has to offer for little people like him.  We bought the Disneyland Soundtrack not too long ago which the kids love listening to so they know every song. 

Cameron Loved Pirates of the Caribbean and The Monster's Inc Adventure the most...he is most definitely a boy!  He sang all the way through It's a Small World and Loved every second of the Teacups (ugh).

So something I learned this go 'round with Disneyland?   Never go when there is some major attraction or show making its debut there.  The World of Color show at California Adventure had its opening night (which we did not get to see due to the disgusting wait times) while we were there.  The place was crazy...even for me and I am pretty tolerant of Disney crowds. 

We ended up spending alot of time at the Paradise Pier Hotel where we stayed and hang out by the pool alot.  It was fun and as always, worth it.

Till next time (that would be September for me when I return to run the Disneyland Half Marathon with Bonnie and Whitney...in case you were wondering)!

Salt Lake City Half Marathon- April 17, 2010

April 17th 2010 marked the day of another bout if insanity for me...I ran my second Half Marathon in Salt Lake City.

It was a gorgeous day and I had all my favorite people waiting for me at the finish line. 

The other good news is that I survived the race, it wasn't as hard as the first one and I shaved almost 25 minutes off my time from the first race!  Yeah!! 

Next up? The Disneyland Half Marathon Labor Day Weekend 2010!

One of many visits to St. George

                                                          These posts are a little out of sequence but I am posting as I come across pictures of stuff we have done...How else will I ever remember?   In April we made the trek to our favorite weekend get-away St. George, UT where my grandma resides.  We spent the weekend with her just pretty-much doing nothing which is exactly what we love doing when we go there...nothing is bliss sometimes.  We swim, we watch movies, we talk and talk with Grandma, and of course we eat. 

We always make it a point to either very clearly point out the St George temple or actually go and see it.  It really a gorgeous place and this particular day there was a bride out front.  Paige was in awe of the Princess-like girl.  She always tells me how she will get married there someday...but she "doesn't want marry Cameron...cause he is my brother!  EW!."  Aw, from the mouths of babes...

I love my sweet grandma so much.  Since my grandfather passed away (2 years ago) she has been doing so well to keep herself busy with friends and substitute teaching and her little dog (which is more like a baby, by the way).  But I can always tell that the sparkle in her eye has dimmed and it comes back whenever we reminisce about Grandpa.  We all miss him alot but I can't even imagine how she misses him after spending 54 years with him.

We always make sure to wave good-bye to Grandma as we leave and she always waits for us to drive away before going back in.  Whenever we leave her I cant help but wonder if this will be the last time we see her.  This is how I will always remember her when I can't go see her anymore...waving good-bye with her sweet smile and knowing she loves us and will be here, waiting for us when we come back.

#1 is 11! Let's go to Disneyland!

Braiden had an awesome birthday if I do say so myself.  He turned 11 on May 20th. Yikes!  I have said it before and I will say it again...am I old enough to have an 11 year old??  I'll never tell.

We had the good old family get-together for cake and presents and stuff as this year Braiden opted for a Mom trip to D-Land rather than a birthday party. Oh he still ended up with a friend trip (7 boys!) to the movie theater to see ShreK 4  and a very rowdy sleep-over, but no party...right.

Over Memorial Day weekend, Braiden and I took a whirl wind trip to California and went to the Happiest Place on Earth.  We had a good time just laughing and listening to music and hanging out.  These trips are the best for Braiden and I as we don't get 1 on 1 time so these are memories I, and hopefully he, will treasure forever.  I just hope that when he is 16 he will still want to take trips with me.

Washed out Random-Ness!

I was messing around with my camera at a family gathering not long ago and decided I really like these washed-out
pics I got by sticking the camera in everyones faces.


Can you tell who they are??

Welcome Home Baby Boy!

McCoy David Watson

May 16, 2010

6 lbs. 12oz

18in long

After a long labor and some complications, my sister-in-law, Jenice had a c-section and delivered this handsome little guy.  He is wearing oxygen in the picture but at this time he is off of the oxygen and breathing very well.

Its so exciting to watch my siblings become parents.  Until now only Bonnie and I have had any kids and it was starting to get a little boring...OK just kidding.  Watching the family grow is never boring but it was definitely time for someone else to start bearing the grandchildren.

Ben and Jenice are doing well and are very excited to get home and start loving on this little guy.

Congrats Ben and Jenice. 

Welcome Home McCoy!

~The anxious Daddy Ben waiting to go into the OR with Jenice~

 

~Jenice having some "Skin to Skin" time with her New Love~

Race for the Cure 2010

The Susan G Komen Race for the Cure was on May 8th, 2010.  It was a gorgeous day and perfect for getting together to celebrate life. 

It is such a humbling experience to be there with close to 20,000 other people and to see all the people with signs on their shirts honoring and remembering their loved ones who are fighting or who have succumbed to this aweful disease.

I read recently that there is 100% certainty that every one will be affected by breast cancer somehow; whether its by actually having it or by knowing someone who has it.  That is an amazing reality.

Organizations like the Komen Foundation dedicate their existence to making a difference for those that have been affected by breast cancer by funding life-saving treatments and research as well as providing financial support for patients that can't afford treatment.

This is the 3rd year that I have been the captain of HCI's Pride for Pink Team.  This year we raised a record amount of $2,950 and had 47 people register to race. The company I work for, Healthcare Insight, made the t-shirts we are wearing.  Aren't they great??    I also was able to talk Eric into joining me and pushing the little kids in our terrible beast of a double stroller.  It was pretty fun and the kids were really good.  I think they were amazed at how many people were there.

As you can see, Paige and Cameron were ecstatic to be there!

Paige and Sleeping Dooty

Paige's Big Night

Valentines Day this year was a special one for Paigey. Our gym, Lifetime Fitness did a Daddy/ Daughter Princess Ball and it was a huge hit for Paige and her Prince (Daddy). Earlier in the day the little princesses got a little pampering in the spa with a manicure and a hair-do. She was able to select her favorite Princess, which we all know is Sleeping Dooty for Paige. The pampering also included a princess tiara.

We found a Sleeping Beauty Princess dress, complete with shoes, gloves and purse. We put on a little eye shadow and lip gloss and she was swept away to the ball in the horse-drawn carriage. Ok she didn't go there in a carriage..BUT...they had a horse drawn carriage and a pumpkin carriage there giving rides to the royal couples.

The Disney Princesses were all present at the ball for picture taking and Paige and Eric danced the night away.

This was such a fun event for all these little girls and their Daddys...we will definitely be doing this again.

Photographic Evidence

Somehow they caught me smiling. Maybe thats because this is very near to the end!

Loved running through the Sleeping Beauty Castle. Disney sure knows how to put on a Rockin' event!

I think this is mile 12, thus the "I wanna die" look. And, yes, those are Mickey Princess Ears on my head. Trust me, that was mild compared to some of the costumes that were there. Who knew you could run in tutus and high heals?

Princess Amy- A Journey to Victory

I have run out of excuses about why I have not blogged in so long but truly I have filled my time in recent months focusing on multiple things. #1 has been my health. I read an article in Redbook Magazine a while back about this lady who decided that the only way she would get in shape would be to focus on increasing her activity and be forced to improve her nutrition while being active. She was encouraged by a friend to train for a half marathon so they registered for the WDW Disney Princess Half Marathon and began a training program.

Suddenly the light went on for me...I could totally do that!! Anyone who really knows me knows that I have always struggled with my weight and I will be the first to admit that I have a somewhat unhealthy obsession with my body. I have always avoided mirrors and on a regular, daily and even hourly basis I think about how I look and what short-falls I might have. I have always known this isn't healthy or good. I know I am not ugly and I know I don't give myself enough credit and I certainly do not want to pass this on to my children...I just needed to prove to myself that I can do something that I set out to do and succeed!

Well that was back in about September of 2009. Today it is March 16th, 2010 and I am proud and happy to report that 9 days and 20 pounds ago I ran my first Half Marathon! The WDW Disney Princess Half Marathon, in fact. (The crowd cheers, whistles and screams my name in Victory!!) I set out to accomplish this goal and I did it.

After reading that article I developed a new obsession. I eagerly researched websites, read a few books about running, found a workout, and worked this obsession into my daily routine.

I, of course had the support of my awesome husband who always takes care of our kids and makes dinner so that I can go for my 2 hour runs or go to the gym. He let me spend the money to register for the race, buy the books, pay for the gym membership, buy the equipment (shoes, clothing, etc) and a couple podiatrist visits, get to Florida to participate in this race and all the incidentals that came along with the awesome week in Florida. He was there at the race with me to hug me right before I just about passed out after the finish.

How was the race? It was awesome! It was so much fun and even though I was running by myself, there was so much encouragement from fellow runners (about 14,000 of them) and the crowd that I felt like a conquering hero coming home after a winning battle. It was invigorating. I felt like vomiting and could barely walk for a couple hours afterward, but all that aside, I DID IT! My goal was to finish in under 3 hours and my official time was 2:59:47. Just 13 seconds within my goal! YES!!

I have told myself for years that "I have never been a runner. There is no way I can run 2 miles, let alone a 13 mile race!!" Well, HA!!! I laugh in the face of the naysayers (mostly myself) and am now registered for 2 more races this year.

I want to say thank to everyone who has supported me and congratulated me through my training and since the race. Nobody really knows what it means to me and my self-esteem to feel so much love and even a little bit of, uh, envy (he-he). I mean, I have done something that many people only wish they could accomplish. But to all those people I would say... "Stop wishing and start doing!! If I can do it, you can do it. You don't have to come in first. Just crossing that finish line made me feel like a gold-medalist and all I can do now is get better and fitter and happier with myself than I have ever been."

Anyone wanna go for a run??

Amy Erickson Bib #4578 Official Race time

Disneyland Addiction in action- July 09

So mid-July we did it again...yes you guessed it...Disneyland. 2009 has been a year full of the Happiest Place on Earth. I think this is a record year for the Ericksons.

We again found some great deals and could not help but take advantage of them. Cameron loves flying now. It was a really early morning and a long trip to get to the hotel so the kids were totally worn out by the time we got there. Yes, that is Cameron drinking my Diet Coke...don't judge me...it was just a sip...haha.



We spent 3 days there and the very first night poor Braiden woke up throwing up. He and I spent the day in the hotel while Eric braved the park with the 2 littles all by himself. Luckily it was a fast bug and within a few hours he was back to normal AND nobody else got sick!! Whew! We swam, we went to the parks and we had a ton of fun enjoying the California sun.

The kids got to see the Disney Electrical Parade that is now at California Adventure. I love that parade. It brings back tons of childhood memories. One of my favorite things about Disneyland is seeing how my kids faces light up whenever they see anything that they think would only be in dreams. This parade is one of them. They love lights more than anything and that combined with all their favorite Disney characters makes for a wonder that they will never forget.

While there I was able to get reacquainted with my childhood best friend Sherry. We have known each other since 7th grade and sorta lost touch the last few years but thanks to FaceBook we found each other. She lives in Southern Cali so i can see her every time we go there. I even talked her into buying Disny annual passes for her and her kids. I personally think its a crime to live in So Cal and NOT have an annual pass. There really is no excuse.

Another successful trip to Disneyland and more memories...but don't worry this was NOT the last trip this year...hold tight! :)

Pyromania

Every 4th of July and 24th of July we have our own little fireworks extravaganza right in our own driveway. No, we do not drive to Wyoming to spend hundreds of dollars on illegal fireworks and invite the entire neighborhood over to watch the show.

Its just us. Us and our Walmart fireworks. Eric takes on this alter-personality and becomes a pyro-maniac. Cant you see the crazed look in his eyes??
We all sit on our lawn chairs and watch Eric singe his eyebrows until its our turn to singe our eyebrows with the sparklers.

Generally the neighborhood kids come by and watch the "show" while Cameron and Paige cling onto my legs, scared to death of the flames. This year Braiden got to actually light a couple of the fireworks. I suppose every young boy has to experience his "right if passage" into pyromania and some time or another. I love that Eric tries so hard to make sure that we have a good time for every holiday. Pyromaniac or not...

Summer Fun

Last July we took a weekend and devoted it doing fun summer things...we just dont do enough of that. So we borrowed our good friends kids, Whitney and Kobe, who coincidentally are the exact ages of Paige and Braiden and are the best of friends and took them to the good old Hogle Zoo. I am a closet zoo fan. I really love taking my kids to the zoo becuase they LOVE the stinky animals and I LOVE seeing them wonder in amazement and them. We saw monkeys, elephants, giraffes, penguins, zebras, bears, a very pregnant and MeerKat and lots of very stinky birds and spiders. It was pretty fun and a welcomed break for Whitney and Kobe's mom.



That very same evening we took a field trip up to Park City and ate Mexican food and swam at our hotel (that is, until Kobe threw up in the pool which caused them to have to drain it. Needless to say, we hid. People were not very happy.) The next day we went to the Alpine Slides and took Paige and Cameron on the little roller coaster. They had a blast.

Today, its snowing outside and 25 degrees. Boy I already miss the summer. It will be back soon enough, I suppose and then I will be wishing for snow... I just cant be pleased.

I am back...

I really need to get blogging again so I have been looking through my pictures today and trying to decide where to start and I am thinking I have it all figured out. How do I possibly document all the perfect and fun events in my little life? I have decided thats not humanly possible but worth a try...

SO...

Back in early July I braved a camping weekend with my three kids on my own. We were invited to go up to Strawberry Reservoir for a night to be part of the planned surprise proposal by my now step dad and to my mom. It was fun to be there and share in that event with them...but...

I will never take wild 10 year old, a whiny 4 year old, a clingy 1.5 year, a dog, and a tent with a broken zipper camping with no husband on a weekend when its supposed to rain and be freezing the entire time!!! What was I thinking?
Cameron cried all night and we froze, the zipper wouldn't close so water got into the tent, it rained the entire weekend so we were all covered with mud. The kids and I were in the car almost the entire time watching the rain with a wet dog enjoying Sponge Bob on the DVD player. We ate pop tarts and Juice Pouches and raw hot dogs because we could cook anything on our wet campfire.




But honestly, after the treck home and getting the inch of mud out of my car I realized that we had fun and I likely will never forget that trip. Not that I will be doing it again anytime soon...

I believe in Miracles...

Yes I am actually posting something....Darn Facebook has taken my blogging time and run away with it...I am a slacker. But I just came across a great quote and I have to put it somewhere that I wont lose it but where others can enjoy it. This is the perfect place.



For Attractive lips, speak words of kindness

For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people

For a slim figure, share your food with the hungry

For Beautiful hair, let a child run their fingers through it once a day

For poise, walk with the knowledge that you never walk alone.

People, more than things, have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed, and redeemed.

Remember, if you ever need a helping hand, you will find one at the end of each of your arms.
As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands, one for helping yourself and the other for helping others."

-Audrey Hepburn

I believe in Manicures.
I believe in Overdressing.
I believe in PRIMPING at leisureand wearing LiPsTiCk.
I believe in Pink.

I believe that Laughing is the best calorie burner.
I believe in KiSsInG; kissing a lot.
I believe in BEING STRONG When everything seems to be going wrong.
I believe HaPpY GiRls are the prettiest girls.
I believe that tomorrow is another day, and

I BELIEVE IN MIRACLES.

Audrey Hepburn


That lady must have been a genius...